Games Workshop took its website, Warhammer.com, offline after scalpers disrupted the pre-order launch of the Siege of Terra: End of Ruin special edition book.

The Warhammer publisher opened pre-orders for the highly anticipated Siege of Terra: End of Ruin, a new anthology of short stories set in the aftermath of the Horus Heresy, a pivotal Space Marine civil war 10,000 years before the Warhammer 40,000 universe. This conflict shapes the grimdark setting and explains the Emperor’s entombment on the Golden Throne.

The special edition of Siege of Terra: End of Ruin excites Warhammer 40K fans with its leather-effect cover, gold foil accents, gilt page edges, and a metal emblem of a ruined Imperial eagle.

Games Workshop announced the special edition would be available “while supplies last” and would go on sale at 10am UK time on June 10, using a queue system to ensure fairness.

However, the queue system failed, leaving fans unable to secure pre-orders. Frustration spread across social media, Discord, and subreddits, until Warhammer.com unexpectedly went offline, leaving users in the dark.

And so, it begins
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Fans who had set aside time for the pre-order launch were left disappointed. Games Workshop later issued a rare statement, explaining it intentionally took Warhammer.com offline after detecting scalpers bypassing its systems.

“Scalpers used bots to circumvent our protections,” Games Workshop stated. “Our vigilant Tech Priests identified this in real-time, prompting us to take Warhammer.com offline.”

As a result, Siege of Terra: End of Ruin is currently unavailable on Warhammer.com, replaced by a page for email notifications. Games Workshop emphasized its commitment to ensuring “genuine fans” receive the special edition.

“We’re canceling all fraudulent orders,” Games Workshop added. “This is our top priority, and we ask for your patience as we resolve this.”

The statement has partially eased fan frustration, with some calling it a “small win” against scalpers, though skepticism remains about the company’s ability to counter bots. Suggestions include adopting a raffle system or requiring a Horus Heresy knowledge test for buyers.

Games Workshop has long faced pre-order issues, with special edition book launches often targeted by scalpers who resell at inflated prices. Attention now turns to how the company will manage the relaunch of Siege of Terra: End of Ruin pre-orders.

Notably, Games Workshop, based in Nottingham, UK, is thriving, recently distributing £20 million (approximately $27 million) in staff bonuses.

While Games Workshop primarily sells miniatures for tabletop wargames like Warhammer 40,000, its intellectual property business is growing, driven by successful video games like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 and animations such as Amazon’s Warhammer 40,000 Secret Level episode. Games Workshop and Amazon recently signed a deal for Henry Cavill's Warhammer 40,000 Cம

System: Cinematic Universe, which will include films and TV series. Space Marine 3 is also in development.